UPDATE: US LAWSUIT OVER CALIFORNIA IMMIGRATION LAWS IS WARNING SHOT

California Gov. Jerry Brown has denounced U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions for speaking in the state about a lawsuit over policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Author:
By SADIE GURMAN and DON THOMPSON , Associated Press

Published:
6:59 PM PST March 7, 2018

Updated:
11:48 PM PST March 7, 2018

MORE

Update: 11 p.m.:

The Trump administration's lawsuit challenging California is the latest warning shot at communities nationwide that are attempting to provide protections for immigrants facing the threat of deportation.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Wednesday that so-called sanctuary policies cannot be accepted. The U.S. Justice Department sued California over laws that limit police and employers' cooperation with federal immigration agents.

White House officials are set to meet Thursday with four Colorado state lawmakers who oppose so-called sanctuary policies.

The Trump administration has clashed repeatedly with Democratic mayors and state officials over its immigration policies.

Officials in other sanctuary cities and states were angered by Sessions' lawsuit.

An Oregon lawmaker called the suit an attempt to "bully states."

Chicago's mayor said the city can't be blackmailed into changing its values

The mayor of Oakland, California, responded to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions by repeating the "How dare you?" phrase he used after she warned of a recent federal immigration raid.

Sessions criticized Mayor Libby Schaaf in a speech Wednesday to law enforcement officials after he sued California over laws that restrict cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities.

Afterward, she said of Sessions: "How dare you" vilify members of the community, distract people from a broken immigration system that breaks up families and distort the reality of declining violent crime in a "sanctuary city" like Oakland.

Schaaf issued a public warning last month about an immigration operation in Northern California.

Update 11:50 a.m.:

Demonstrators blocked traffic on a busy street but were peaceful as they protested U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' decision to sue California over laws that restrict cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Sacramento police say nobody was arrested in connection with the protests Wednesday outside a hotel where Sessions spoke to California law enforcement officials. A line of police and private security guards blocked access to the hotel.

Protesters say they wanted to send a message to Sessions that Californians support immigrants and won't cooperate with immigration policies they view as racist.

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is telling California, "We have a problem."

Sessions told law enforcement officers at a conference in Sacramento Wednesday that the Justice Department sued California because state laws are preventing federal immigration agents from doing their jobs.

California leaders strongly deny that claim.

Sessions strongly criticized Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf for her recent unusual public warning that an operation by federal immigration officers was imminent. He claims 800 "wanted criminals" eluded arrests as a result.

Sessions says California's laws are unconstitutional and a "plain violation of common sense."

ORIGINAL STORY:

SACRAMENTO — Dozens of demonstrators have gathered in Sacramento, California, to protest an appearance by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

The protest Wednesday comes a day after Sessions announced the Trump administration is suing the state over several laws that restrict government authorities and private businesses from cooperating with federal immigration agents.

Demonstrators are blocking traffic outside a hotel where Sessions will deliver a speech to law enforcement officials. The protesters are chanting "stand up, fight back" and "no justice no peace."

There is a heavy presence of police on horses and bicycles and a helicopter overhead.